Container blank and container with denesting feature
A blank for being formed into a container. The blank has a marginal area that includes a plurality of score lines for facilitating forming of the blank into the container. The score lines are positioned to facilitate formation of denesting features of the container. A container formed from the blank has denesting features.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/275,215, filed Aug. 26, 2009.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCEU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/275,215, which was filed on Aug. 26, 2009, is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if presented herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSUREThe present disclosure relates to containers, trays, constructs, and/or blanks having features to facilitate denesting of stacked containers.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREIn one aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a blank for being formed into a container. The blank has a marginal area that includes a plurality of score lines for facilitating forming of the blank into the container. The score lines are positioned to facilitate formation of denesting features of the container.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a container formed from a blank. The container includes denesting features that are formed by a plurality of score lines in a marginal portion of the blank.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a blank for forming a container. The blank comprises a central portion, an edge, and a marginal portion between the edge and the central portion. The blank comprises a radius extending from a center of the blank to the edge. The marginal portion comprising a plurality of score lines. Each score line being positioned at an angle relative to the radius of the blank.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a container formed from the blank having the features noted in the preceding paragraph. The container comprises a bottom wall formed from the central portion, a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall and being formed from at least a portion of the marginal portion, and a flange extending laterally outward from the side wall and being formed from at least a portion of the marginal portion.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a container having an interior surface forming an interior space of the container and an exterior surface. The container comprises a bottom wall, a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, and a flange extending laterally outward from a top of the side wall. The container has overlapped portions in at least a portion of the side wall and the flange. The overlapped portions form a first plurality of protrusions on the interior surface and a second plurality of protrusions on the exterior surface.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate the above stated advantages and other advantages and benefits of various additional embodiments reading the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the below-listed drawing figures.
According to common practice, the various features of the drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale. Dimensions of various features and elements in the drawings may be expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the disclosure.
Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numbers throughout the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTSThe present disclosure relates generally to various aspects of containers, constructs, trays, materials, packages, elements, and articles, and methods of making such containers, constructs, trays, materials, packages, elements, and articles. Although several different aspects, implementations, and embodiments are disclosed, numerous interrelationships between, combinations thereof, and modifications of the various aspects, implementations, and embodiments are contemplated hereby. In one illustrated embodiment, the present disclosure relates to forming a container or tray for holding food items or various other articles. However, in other embodiments, the container or tray can be used to form other non-food articles or may be used for heating or cooking.
As shown in
In one embodiment, the marginal portion 11 of the blank 3 includes a plurality of score lines 15. The score lines 15 are positioned at an angle A relative to the radius R. As shown in
In one embodiment, the blank 3 has a radius R of at least approximately 3 inches (76 mm), and in the illustrated embodiment, at least approximately 3⅜ inches (86 mm). In one embodiment, the score lines 15 have a length L3 of at least about ¾ inch (19 mm), and in the illustrated embodiment, at least about 1 inch (25 mm). In one embodiment, the distance D1 between the first end points 17 is at least approximately ¼ inch (6 mm), and in the illustrated embodiment at least about ½ inch (13 mm). In one embodiment, the distance D2 between the second end points 19 is at least approximately ⅛ inch (3 mm), and in the illustrated embodiment, is at least approximately ⅜ inch (9.5 mm). In one embodiment, the angle A is at least about 15 degrees, in the illustrated embodiment, the angle A is at least about 30 degrees, and in another embodiment, the angle A is at least about 60 degrees. In one embodiment, the blank 3 comprises 18 point paperboard having a thickness of approximately 0.018″ (0.46 mm), but the blank 3 could have a larger or smaller thickness or could comprise other materials. In one embodiment, the distance D1 is at least about 25% greater than the distance D2, and in the illustrated embodiment, is at least about 33% greater. In one embodiment, the length L3 is at least about 10% of the radius R, in another embodiment, the length L3 is at least about 25% of the radius R, and in the illustrated embodiment, the length L3 is at least about 30% of the radius R. All of the dimensional information presented herein is intended to be illustrative of certain aspects of the disclosure and is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, as various other embodiments of the disclosure could include dimensions that are greater than or less than the dimensions included herein.
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The containers 5 can include other denesting features, such as any of the denesting features disclosed in the incorporated by reference U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0109653, or any other feature.
The orientation of the score lines 15 of the blank 3 of the present disclosure allow the overlapped portions or pleats 31 to protrude outward from the exterior surface 105 of the container 5 a sufficient distance to create the stacking lugs 35 when the 3 blank comprises a material having a reduced thickness (18 pt or less). The angular placement of the score lines 15 allows more material to accumulate at the pleats 31 so that height of the stacking lugs 35 is maintained even with the use of paperboard having a reduced thickness. The thicker stacking lugs 35 will keep multiple containers 5 (
In accordance with the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure, a score line can be any substantially linear, although not necessarily straight, form of weakening that facilitates folding therealong. More specifically, but not for the purpose of narrowing the scope of the present disclosure, score lines include: a fold line, such as lines formed with a blunt scoring knife, or the like, which creates a crushed portion in the material along the desired line of weakness; a cut that extends partially into a material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of cuts that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness; and various combinations of these features.
The foregoing description illustrates and describes various embodiments of the present disclosure. As various changes could be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Furthermore, the scope of the present disclosure covers various modifications, combinations, and alterations, etc., of the above-described embodiments. Additionally, the disclosure shows and describes only selected embodiments, but various other combinations, modifications, and environments are contemplated and are within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein, commensurate with the above teachings, and/or within the skill or knowledge of the relevant art. Furthermore, certain features and characteristics of each embodiment may be selectively interchanged and applied to other illustrated and non-illustrated embodiments without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
Claims
1. A blank for forming a container, the blank comprising:
- a central portion;
- an edge; and
- a marginal portion between the edge and the central portion, the blank comprising a radius extending from a center of the blank to the edge, the marginal portion comprising a plurality of score lines, each score line being positioned to intersect the radius and being positioned at an angle relative to the radius of the blank that intersects the score line, each of the score lines comprise a first end point and a second end point, the first end point being spaced inward from the edge and the second end point being adjacent the central portion,
- adjacent score lines of the plurality of score lines each have respective first end points spaced apart a first distance, and the adjacent score lines each have respective second end points spaced apart a second distance, the first distance is greater than the second distance.
2. The blank of claim 1 wherein the first distance is at least approximately 25% greater than the second distance.
3. The blank of claim 1 wherein the angle is at least approximately 15 degrees.
4. The blank of claim 1 wherein the angle is at least approximately 30 degrees.
5. A blank for forming a container, the blank comprising:
- a central portion;
- an edge; and
- a marginal portion between the edge and the central portion, the blank comprising a radius extending from a center of the blank to the edge, the marginal portion comprising a plurality of score lines, each score line being positioned to intersect the radius and being positioned at an angle relative to the radius of the blank that intersects the score line, each of the score lines comprise a first end point and a second end point, the first end point being spaced inward from the edge and the second end point being adjacent the central portion, and
- the angle is at least approximately 60 degrees.
6. The blank of claim 1 wherein the score lines each have a length between the end points, the length being at least approximately 10% of the radius.
7. A blank for forming a container, the blank comprising:
- a central portion;
- an edge; and
- a marginal portion between the edge and the central portion, the blank comprising a radius extending from a center of the blank to the edge, the marginal portion comprising a plurality of score lines, each score line being positioned to intersect the radius and being positioned at an angle relative to the radius of the blank that intersects the score line, each of the score lines comprise a first end point and a second end point the first end point being spaced inward from the edge and the second end point being adjacent the central portion,
- adjacent score lines of the plurality of score lines each have respective first end points spaced apart a first distance, and the adjacent score lines each have respective second end points spaced apart a second distance,
- the score lines each have a length between the end points, the length being at least approximately 30% of the radius.
8. A container formed from a blank, the blank comprising a central portion;
- an edge; and
- a marginal portion between the edge and the central portion, the blank comprising a radius extending from a center of the blank to the edge, the marginal portion comprising a plurality of score lines, each score line being positioned to intersect the radius and being positioned at an angle relative to the radius of the blank that intersects the score line, each of the score lines comprise a first end point and a second end point the first end point being spaced inward from the edge and the second end point being adjacent the central portion;
- the container comprising:
- a bottom wall formed from the central portion,
- a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall and being formed from at least a portion of the marginal portion; and
- a flange extending laterally outward from the side wall and being formed from at least a portion of the marginal portion,
- the container has overlapped portions in at least a portion of the side wall and the flange, the overlapped portions being formed from the score lines in the blank and forming a first plurality of protrusions on an interior surface of the container and a second plurality of protrusions on an exterior surface of the container.
9. The container of claim 8 further comprising a stacking lug on the exterior surface extending around the side wall.
10. The container of claim 9 wherein the side wall comprises two compressed portions adjacent the stacking lug, the compressed portions each comprise a portion of the surface area of the exterior surface of the container wherein the overlapped portions are compressed.
11. The container of claim 10 wherein the stacking lugs protrude laterally outward from the compressed portions and form denesting features for separating stacked containers.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Aug 26, 2010
Date of Patent: Jul 15, 2014
Patent Publication Number: 20110048999
Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc. (Atlanta, GA)
Inventor: Patrick H. Wnek (Sherwood, WI)
Primary Examiner: Fenn Mathew
Assistant Examiner: Andrew T Kirsch
Application Number: 12/868,850
International Classification: B65D 21/00 (20060101); B65D 85/62 (20060101); A47G 19/00 (20060101); A47G 21/00 (20060101); A47G 23/00 (20060101); B65D 6/00 (20060101); B65D 8/04 (20060101); B65D 8/18 (20060101); B65D 90/02 (20060101); B65D 1/00 (20060101);